Del Ray Cafe

Fantastic food. Great ambience. Our waiter nadir was tops! No complaints and can’t wait to go back!

The Salad DRC has rosemary candied walnuts! How did this dark magic even come together!
Omelette is good and bigger than they imply. Mini croissant is nice and has a light raspberry flavor.
There’s rosemary in the walnuts!!!

This was hands down the best meal of our trip. I’m glad we went out of our way to find this spot. We had a early lunch (we slept in past breakfast) here on a lazy morning of our vacation. My husband ordered a dozen escargot and loved them. My beet salad was good but the candied pecans in it were a little over candied to my preference and seemed a tad on the stale side but the freshness of the beets, greens & horseradish vinaigrette balanced things out nicely. My omelette was cooked nicely, done but not too loose or overcooked. He ordered a crêpe with chicken and asparagus. He reported that it was really tasty. It was a shame we did not save room for dessert because I’m sure one of the sweet crepes would have been amazing. If you are in the area and want a great meal with pleasant staff this is the place to go.

Disappointed big time in this place. Went here for dinner and the place wasn’t packed so we were seated quickly but service was slow and our food orders were wrong.
The carrot soup was uneatable all you could taste was the spice which was so strong. The half chicken came out dry and was not seasoned. Also the lobster risotto was ice cold. If that’s the way it is supposed to be then to bad, it would have been much better if it was hot.
Our order on our receipt was wrong so be sure to verify everything! far to expensive for the quality of food and lack of service.

My experience with French cuisine tends to be of the crêpe and croque variety, so I was excited to give DRC a try
We ordered:
Clam Soup– It had good flavor. I don’t remember getting much clams though. ⁵⁄₁₀
French Onion Soup– This is a sweeter rendition of the dish than I’m used to. And I prefer it to salty, which for some reason, happens a lot with this soup. Lots of cheese. I preferred this to the clam soup. ⁷⁄₁₀
Foie Gras– The texture was so smooth! I don’t remember the last time I had this, but this was delicious. It wasn’t easy to share (3 ppl) and you don’t get much of it. ⁸⁄₁₀
Rotisserie Chicken– A little dry… not great flavors. Veggies were fine. Wouldn’t pay $ 20 for that again. ⁴⁄₁₀
Mushroom Risotto– This was a flavor bomb. So surprising since it was a completely vegetarian dish. And I know that my risotto will never come close to this, but if I were to be picky, the rice was just a touch too al dente. ⁹⁄₁₀
Duck (I don’t remember if it was the maple duck b/​c I don’t recall a fig sauce) — Also a touch dry and not much flavor. I’ve had duck done so much better. ⁵⁄₁₀
Lobster– Quite reasonably priced given what was being charged for other items. You don’t get much lobster, though. So I guess this dish is overly expensive, too. Tasted alright. ⁵⁄₁₀
LOL, I was quite surprised that the best main was the vegetarian dish. My husband said that he would return just for that. But overall, given the expectation for a restaurant of this caliber, I was a little disappointed that there wasn’t more than one outstanding entrée.

Find another place to eat – the owner is in over his head and the customer service.. . well, let’s just say, it doesn’t exist! I don’t care if the food is good or bad, the restaurant does not have a friendly atmosphere; in fact, it’s atmosphere is TENSE and I actually left there with a headache! The server was unfriendly, the hostess was a scatterbrain, and the owner – a cantankerous, disheveled, and totally ARROGANT little man – was down right combative (who needs that?). The whole experience ruined our Sunday morning. It is a below-​par café with zero appeal or ambiance.

I must say, I am very disappointed in this place.
We normally go to Chadwick’s for brunch, but decided to branch out and this place had great reviews. First off, we arrived at about noon and the wait was about 35 min. Ok, that is normally a sign of good food. However, signs lie.
When we got seated I decided I was going to have a mimosa. I was informed that they did not have a mimosa special and that they were $ 8 each. The table next to me had some and they were tiny little things and certainly not worth the $ 8.
Next, my friend and I both decided we wanted the «special» which was a lobster Benedict. Well, our server returned to inform us that they were out. How are you out of your special by 1 pm?
Moving on, I ordered the lump crab Benedict. It came it room temperature! I assure you crab Benedict is not so delicious cold. I should’ve sent it back but at this point I just wanted to choke it down and get the hell out. My friend ordered the two egg with spinach, salmon, and goat cheese meal. It was so salty she almost couldn’t eat it.
I am generally easy to please, especially for brunch but for the prices at this place I would expect MUCH more. I will not be back.

Cons:
1) the food is expensive
2) parking is inadequate
3) water went unfilled for a long time
Pros:
1) some of the food is tasty
2) a nice selection of dishes to choose from
We ordered:
A) French onion soup: it was good and cheesy
B) French clam chowder: it was good but not as good as regular clam chowder
C) foie gras: mediocre, not worth the $ 17
D) fries with truffle oil: it was so so
E) duck: tasty
F) mushroom risotto: really really good, highly recommended
G) half chicken: a bit dry. A bit tasteless. I ate the chicken dish with ketchup so it wasn’t too bad. Huge portion.
I probably wouldn’t go back, except for the risotto due to the high prices and mediocre food.

Love this place. The food is very good and drinks are awesome as well. Best part is the service.

Del Ray Café is a popular and quaint home-​style venue. Based on my observations, it appears that dining here can be a hit or miss experience. Unfortunately, my experience was full of mostly misses.
Pros:
— Cute venue
— I was able to get a table for two immediately on a Saturday afternoon.
— The veggie burger I ordered was delicious. The ingredients are not listed on the website but it’s made with veggies (peas, corn, onions and mushrooms) and no breading or unappetizing binders. My friend also enjoyed the French toast made with brioche in a vanilla batter with blueberry compote. She also said the bacon is some of the best around.
Cons:
— The entryway is super crowded. It’s difficult to navigate through all the foot traffic. The hostess’ computer is directly in the door way and the kitchen area is crowded with servers.
— I was seated right away at a table on the covered patio. I alerted both hostesses that I would be going to restroom to wash my hands and asked that they not give away the unattended table while I waited for my friend. I was not gone more than four minutes, in which time both hostesses had forgotten my request and gave away the table to another party.
— They charge $ 2 for substitutions which is normally fine, except I ordered a veggie burger with no bun and I couldn’t have the fries since they are not gluten free, so I would expect that no bun + no fries is more than equivalent to the handful of lettuce and a drizzle of dressing I was offered in exchange.
— Some of the items listed on the website menu were not available on their actual menu.
— Service is slow
— Seating is tight
— The acoustics aren’t great so it’s hard to hold a conversation.
— There is only one restroom available for each gender so there is typically a wait.

This place never disappoints! I’ve only done breakfast and it is yummy and healthy every time! I usually get an egg white veggie and crab omelette with a pancake on the side. Oh and the coffee is amazing– regular and decaf! Rich and robust. Add a splash of fresh cream and you are good to go.

One of my favorite restaurants in Alexandria. Very expansive menu for any meal of the day. I favor the dinner menu. They have often undercooked my steak but the experience as a whole is perfect. Everyone is so friendly and on top of everything. Definitely a must go when in Alexandria.

Del Ray has all the promises of being a gem in the neighborhood. Unfortunately it’s policy of taking reservations for party of 6 and more is what makes long lines and hour long wait the norm. Once you do get a seat, the servers are polite and on top of things. Their pastries are good though nothing unique or spectacular. The eggs Benedicts are delicious but the savory crêpe, particularly the chicken & asparagus one, is not tasty. Curry sauce should not be part of a crêpe!

I want to eat here every day. I have only been once but it was amazing. The service is wonderful, the food is delicious and the restaurant itself is beautiful. They way they have modified the building to fit the needs of a restaurant is quaint and lovely. It’s a great ‘ladies that lunch’ location. I had the buckwheat crêpe with salmon. It was amazing and a large portion. It was two meals for me. I will be back!

O. M. G.
Del Ray Café has some of the best breakfast food I’ve had in a while. I got the roasted pork belly stuffed with chorizo and a fried egg on top. It comes with the most delicious polenta I’ve ever tasted and a perfectly seasoned tomato sauce. My lady got the french toast and gave it a try. I’m not usually a fan of sweet things for breakfast, but this french toast was light and PERFECT. Great coffee, friendly staff, and quick service!

So happy to have found this gem in Del Ray. Being a newbie to the DC metro area from Texas, I was looking forward to trying all of the local restaurants in the area. But I’m not going to lie, until my husband and I stumbled across this restaurant, I was starting to get discouraged with the food choices here.
We went for dinner on a Tuesday at about 7 pm. Initially the host said they were closed, but a server came out and waived us in. The service was great. Our server was thorough in describing menu items and made some exceptional recommendations. I chose (and loved) the bacon wrapped shrimp and grits, my daughter indulged in the kids beef ravioli, and my husband devoured his lobster risotto. All was to. die. for! We even decided to go for dessert, and selected the chocolate filled beignets. They were no Café du Monde, but def served as a great substitute.
I’m looking forward to trying their brunch menu soon. I will be taking family there when they visit as well as encouraging local friends to visit.

This review must be read in the context of the occasion – a Valentine’s Day dinner with the expectation of good food and tender, intimate conversation.
With that disclaimer out of the way, let’s begin!
My boyfriend made reservations at Del Ray Café for Valentine’s dinner. He made the reservation pretty late (the day of but understandable given his rigorous schedule so spare him please!), and to our surprise, Del Ray Café, with its promise of French/​American eats, still had availability. We gave the menu a quick glance and we were satisfied with the advertised offerings. Given the prices, we expected the service and ambience to match as well.
Things started off well! The hostess warmly greeted us and service was prompt and attentive. We were given a complimentary bread basket to start our meal. The bread was warmed, crisp, and served with whipped butter — a great starter! But questions marks started to fill our heads once our ordered food arrived.
We ordered the French onion soup and the burgundy snails as appetizers. The onion soup was under-​seasoned and lukewarm, which made the cheesy top layer more of an impenetrable slab of dairy rather than a gooey gate to the (what was expected to be) luscious soup beneath. There seemed to be a lack of a flavorful punch that I’ve come to expect with French onion soup. As for the snails, they were probably one of the saving graces of the meal, served in a pool of herby, melted butter (you really can’t go wrong with butter). The snails paired great with the bread, but, again, I was wishing for the dish to be a little warmer.
For our main dishes, we ordered the Lamb, Two-​Ways (upon recommendation from our server) and the Moules Frites (Mussels and Fries). My boyfriend wasn’t too impressed with his lamb, later telling me that, overall, it wasn’t stand-​out. For me, the fries needed heavy seasoning on my part and the mussels were plentiful (2 lbs apparently!) but lacking in flavor.
Given the price of our meal, I’d have to admit that I expected more in terms of flavor and presentation. With lukewarm food and underperforming flavors, I was definitely left disappointed at the end of the night.
What was perhaps most shocking, though, was the ambience of the restaurant. While I understand that Del Ray Café may be more of a neighborhood eatery that prides itself on its quaint charm in a converted house, I expected at least somewhat of a heightened sense of awareness during Valentine’s Day dinner! We were seated in the first room of the establishment, to the left of the kitchen and stairs, and any conversation we wanted to have was drowned out by all the noise. Servers loudly conversed with kitchen staff. Servers or workers pounded up and down the staircase throughout our meal. With the premium price tag on the food, I expected to at least be able to hear my dinner partner during our meal.
Del Ray Café hasn’t earned my recommendation when it comes to an intimate dinner spot (definitely much better places out there for the same price), but given its reputation, I’d like to come back for brunch or lunch to enjoy Del Ray in, perhaps, its more natural form.

Came here for a girls brunch — del ray café is a cute country atmosphere and residents know it — it was PACKED. It was also probably 78 inside in Jan so dress appropriately.
I started with a fresh mimosa and a chocolate croissant. Flakey, with a touch of chocolate but not overbearing — I’m a fan. For my main, I ordered the croc monsieur — it comes with a side salad and fruit which makes you feel better about eating the cheesy, meaty, toasty sammy. A very respectable french sammy,
The food came fairly quickly given how packed this place was and our server was a character. I’ll be back!

What a letdown! I was so excited to try this place after receiving numerous recommendations from friends, but after my experience today it’s unlikely I’ll be returning.
After a very brief wait, we were seated in the first floor dining room. The room was simple and cute but extremely loud. People in the upstairs dining room must have been walking around, because my fiancé and I could hardly hear each other. Thankfully, our server was very nice and attended to us quickly. Unfortunately, the table at which we were seated was still sticky with the last guests’ syrup.
We ordered the vegetable Benedict and a dish with eggs and smoked salmon. The portions were small and the price tags were a little high given the portions. More importantly, my poached egg was extremely undercooked. I don’t mean runny and delicious. I mean that the majority of the white was still clear and the yolk hardly appeared to be cooked at all. The vegetables in the hash were extremely oily. I order a vegetable hash because I’m looking for a moderately healthy breakfast; not because I’d like to drink a quarter cup of oil to start off my day. My fiancé enjoyed his smoked salmon dish, but was so hungry after that he ate my raw egg. The mini croissant that came with my meal was very buttery but it had a nice texture.
However, I justified the small portions at first because this is an awesome farm-​to-​table/​local food joint. I LOVE when restaurants buy from local farms! The first page of their menu is a fabulous run down of all the local spots they support, from farms to their local bank! Though I wasn’t ordering pancakes today, I was really excited to read about their local syrup (you know, the stuff sticking to my elbow). How yummy!
HOWEVER, what makes this place a complete sham is that through our meal, the staff were bringing all the syrup, hot sauce, and honey bottles (etc) to a ledge near the window in our dining room to refill them. That yummy local syrup you think you’re paying for? Every maple syrup container was refilled with Kirkland generic maple syrup. The hot sauce was sriracha. What a joke! Don’t BLATANTLY lie to your customers and charge them prices for a product (hell, a philosophy) they’re not getting. And for the love of goodness, if you’re going to lie, maybe try to be less obvious?
What a waste. I had such high hopes for the place. Between the crappy food and the shameful shortcuts, I won’t be returning anytime soon. I’d rather make a Costco run and cook breakfast myself.

Decent food and very cute atmosphere. I visited Del Rey Café with a friend on a Monday night and made reservations but absolutely did not need any. The restaurant looks like a house that was converted into a restaurant. The ambiance is casual but still upscale without trying to be. The theme appears to be seafood, but they had a bit of a French theme going on as well (not that those two are at all mutually exclusive).
I ordered:
–French onion soup (with a beef broth) — I had read rave reviews about this dish and decided to go with it. I absolutely loved the quantity and quality of the melty cheese on top of the soup and I enjoyed the portion size overall. Very fresh and tasty!
–Beet salad with candied walnuts, pita chips, arugula, and feta cheese, and supposedly a bacon dressing. I think they may have forgotten my dressing entirely because the salad was dry and there was no bacon (in solid or liquid form) to be detected. Good salad overall, but it could have benefited from salad dressing of some kind.
My friend ordered the beet salad and their soup of the day (cream of mushroom). The soups were a pretty generous portion and my friend seemed to enjoy her dish.
Service was a bit spotty. They did check up on us a lot at the beginning of our meal, but sort of forgot about us at the middle of the meal. At one point, my water glass was completely empty. And there really weren’t too many patrons dining there when we visited.
Overall, though, I enjoyed my experience at Del Rey Café. Good food and I loved the décor and overall feel of the place. I certainly would return.